Asbiqhob to xxiilooo switchboard



June 29 1926,

l.. p. KELLOGG IGNITION SYSTEM Filed July 27 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l l l l l l f l June 29 1926.

\ 1,590,631 L. D. KELLOGG IGNITION SYSTEM Filed July 27. 1921 2 Sheets-eet 2 /Z-YYLTF. LEFm/ZYKEZ/Ugg Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.

' LEROY D. XELLOGG, 0l' DEERFIEID, ILLINOIS, SIGNOR T0 um@ AND SUPPLY OOIPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLQINOIB, A CORPLATIOH 0l' ILLINOIS.

IGNITION SYSTEI.

My invention relates to current controlf lers, and more particularly to the so-callled ignition distributers for internal combustion engines, and is particularly intended for use in engines such as are used in automobiles or the like.

In the ignition system of an automobile engine, the ignition circuit is controlled by a switch known as an ignition switch and is provided with an on and off position, and which, when moved to its on position, closes the ignition circuitand through the agency of a distributer of the above type, whlch is driven by the engine through suitable connecting mechanism, distributes the current to the various spark plugs of the automobile engine. The switch, when in its olf osition, opens the ignition circuit and may he locked through a suitable locking mechanism against operation to prevent an unauthorized rson closing the ignition circuit' and using the automobilefand an object of my invention is the provision of an additional ignitionl circuit closin and opening switch in association with t e distributer, which is automatically closed when the distributer shaft is rotated.

In ignition systems of the above type a starting pedal is provided which is under the control ofthe operator, and which, when actuated, closes a clrcuit through the starting motor to turn over the engine. This motion is transmitted to the distributer shaft through suitable connecting mechanism, and

means operatively associated with said distributer vshaft automatically closes the battery switch associated with 4the distributer to cause the functioning of the engine. This circuit switch is also automatically opened when the distributer shafts stop rotating due to the stopping of the engine.

One of the features of my invention 1s the provision of a cam driving connection between the distributer shaft and an auxiliary shaft which controls the automatic closing and opening of the i ition circuit switch associated with the switch. This ignitionvcircuit switch is closed as soon as the engine is turned over by the starting motor and remains closed while the engine is runnin to maintain the battery circuit. Should the driver stop the engine or stall it andflforget to turn off the i ition switch, the stopping ofthe en e w1ll thus permit the battery switch i associated .therewith to automatically open the said battery circuit, thus preventing any drain of the battery while the engine is not runnin The above features, as well as others, wi l be more fullyhereinafter described in the ensuing specification.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference ma be had to the accompanying drawin s, 1n which like reference characters in t e several views denote like parts, andin which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the combined timer distributer and ignition switch cut-off of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. view with the distributer cap and disk removed to more clearly illustrate the timer and timer contacts;

Fig. 4 'is a view of the upper portion of the distributer and i ition switch cut-oil showing. the device o my invention in its actuated position; and

Fig. 5 is a simplified circuit dia f m showing the ignition'switch cut-oft' o my invention applied to an ignition system of an engine. A

Referring to the accompanying drawings, thekmechanical construction of these arts including the timer cam and the distri uter The driving shaft 2 is suitably connected Y.

to the engine shaft and geared to the proper ratio' of movement to operate the ytimer and distributer in pro er cycle. The u per end of the driving sha t 2 lis reduced an threaded to receive a circular plate 3 that carires the mechanism that operates to automatically advance the spark as thelspeed of the driving shaft is increased. e circular plate member 3, as well as the rest of the mechanism that forms the combined timer and distributer is carried in a cup-shtped containing .member 4 which is provide with an inverted cup-shaped cap 5 formed of insulating materlal. The cup 4 is provided with an integrally formed sleeve member 6 through which the shaft 2 extends and which is adapted to set in a bearing (not shown) on the engine base, so that itmaybe rotatably advanced or retarded through a manual conprevent fur-`r` necting link which is connected t0 the plate ther rotation ofthe ributer shaft and 7 that isvjriveted to the bottom ofthe cup 0 casing 4. The plate 7 and itslconnecting links forming manual means to rotate the cup casing 4 in turn rotating the cap 5. in which are embedded the terminals 66, thereby advancing or retarding the spark that the distributer furnished to the engine.

The weighted members 8 consist of laminations of sheet metal which are pivoted diametrically opposite each other to the circular plate 3 by means ,of suitable pivot pins that are secured tol the said circular plate 3. 'lheifree ends of the weighted members extend inwardly and are each provided with a semi-circular recess to permit the end of the shaft 2 to exend therethrough. 'llhe weighted laminated members are held together by means of rivets 10, two of said rivets being provided with extended end portions or purposes hereinafter to be described.A VFitting loosely 'over the extended v end of the shaft 2 is a surrounding sleeve 11 that has a bearing surface adapted to engage lthe shoulder 13 of the shaft 2.v The lower end of the sleeve 11 is threaded to receive forcing out of the split' portions of the sleeve 11. A pair of studs 21 are securely staked to the plate3 and are provided with transverse slots to receive the ends of a pair of leaf springs 22. Screws 23 are provided to securely hold' the` leaf springs 22 to the staked studs 2l. rlhe free extremities of the springs 22 engage suitable ears formedintegrally with the middle one of the lamina- `tions ofthe weighted members 8 and operate to-hold the said weighted members in their normal position.

A circular cup-shaped Lmember 27 for carrying the interrupter contacts [its within the outer inclosing cup 4, and insulatingly secured to the inner surface of the cup 27' by means of bolts 34 are the int-errupter contacts `41 and 36. i *l The triangularly shaped mounting plate 37 vwhich carries the contacts 41 and 36is preferably made of'some insulating material such as hard rubber or some other `comiposition. Secured to this plate 37 is a post `38 on which is pivotally mounted the con- 'tact-arm 35 that carries lcontact 41. A cotterwp1n39 1s passed through atransverse slotin the said post. 38 to hold the contact arm in position'. A leaf spring 42 is prodrical surface of the cup 27 to provide tensioning means for yieldingly holdmgcontact arm 35 in its normal position. A plate mem ber 43 is securely held to the plate 37 by means of the bolts 34 and rivets 45 and is provided with an upturned end portlon 46 for holding the contact 36. The upturned portion 46 is tapped and threaded to receive a screw member 47 that carries the contact 36, and a locking nut 48 is provided to, hold .the screw member 47 in its adjusted position.

The timer cam 20 is provided4 with a number of ribs 49, equal in number to the number of cylinders of the internal combustion engine. The ribs 49 are adapted to contact with the nose of a fiber member 50, securely fastened to the contact arm by means of rivets 51, to'open and close the contacts 41 and 36 as the distributer shaft is revolved. 'llhe cover cap 5, which is made of insulating material as hereinbefore mentioned, is provided with an inner annular recess 53 which is adapted to fit over the upper edge ofthe cup member 27 and abut against the upper edge of the casing 4. A circular distributing disk member 58 is provided with a central orifice 59 for securing it to the timer cam 20 so that when the timer cam is rotated the disk 58 is rotated therewith. cylindrical recess 60 is cut in the face of the projecting lugs 56 of the disk 58, into which is fitted a cylindrical member 6l. A contact button 62 provided with a flattened circular member is adapted to t within the cylindrical member 61, and a spring 63 is provided which exerts tension upon the contact button 62 in an outward direction to keep it in cont/act with the terminals 66 of .the head 5. A metallic ring 64 is secured to the upper face of the disk 58 and forms electrical connecting means from the contact button 62 to a contact point 65 which is carried by the dist-ributer head 5.

A plurality of contact terminal studs 66 extend through the side wall of the distributer head 5 into position to be engaged by the contact button 62 as the disk 58 is ro-' I tated, the contact terminals 66 corresponding in number'to the number of cylinders of t'he internal combustion engine. The threaded ends of the terminals 66 constitute the secondary terminals that connect to the cylinders that contain the explosive miX-.

ture ready for tiring. At the same time that the contact 'button 62 is rotated over the contact ,ends ofthe terminals 66, the timer cam 20 is, of course, operating the make and break device to cailsethe impulses to be sent through the primary winding of an induction coil.

The `timer cam 20 is provided with an integrally formed sleeve extension 70, which eatends through a'central orifice 7 .1 in the disk member 58. The sleevejextensen 70 is provided witha central orifice 71 to permit access tothe screw` 18, and it also forms a` bearing for an auxiliary shaft 72 w'hich is received in the said opening 71 Aand which when in position rests against the shoulder 73 in the opening 71. A collar 74 is suitcap.,5 to permit external leads to be connected with the said terminals. The upper f end of the auxiliary shaft 72 has secured thereto a conical sha d buttdn 80 of suitable insulation material, which is in engagement with the spring 77 at all times, and the tension of the spring 77 is such as to hold thel auxiliary shaft 72, and the collar 74 Vas a lwhole in the position clearly illustrated in Fi 2.

Re erring now to the operation of the device, when the shaft 2 is rotated, due to its connection to the. sha/ft of the engine the circular disk 3 which is attached thereto is rotated and the free ends of the weight Amembers 8,: due to centrifugal force, are

lforced outwardly against the tension of the leaf springs 22. The rotation of the wei hted members .8 rotates the surrdun ing sleeve 11 which carries the timer cam 20' (through the medium of the extended ends of the pinsv and the plate member 14.) The rotation of the timer cam 20 operates to interrupt the timer contacts 36 and 41 to 'make and break a circuit through the primary of the induction coil. The rotation of the cam member 20 also causes the distributing disk 58 to be rotated, thereby causing the contact button 62 to make contact with the contact studs 66, thereby distributing the secondary currents to the different cylinders of the combustion engine. As the speed of the distributer shaftV is` increased, the weighted nmmbers are forced farther from their normal position, 'causing the/pins 10 to move outwardly in their grooves and 16, thereby causing the plate member 14 to advance the surrounding sleeve 11 which in turn advances the timer contacts, thereby causing the timer .contacts to be operated-to transmit an impulse to the primary of the inductionv coil in advance of the impulses that would have been .transmitted had the timer camnot beenv advanced. Conversely, as the speed of the distributer shaft is decreased the lweighted members are forced insprin shaft, thereby 1'retarding the spark. For a more clear and detailed description of a,

distributer of this type, reference may be had to a patent issued to William'Kaisling and bearin Patent No. 1,363,512.

The sha t 2 is rotated and this rotation is transmitted to the timer as just decam surface 82 of the collar 74 andthe tend#l ency of the friction member 87 to retard the rotation of the shaft 72. The upward movementl of the collar 74 and shaft 72 asl a whole in the orice 71 is limited as the upwardV movement of the auxiliary shaft 72 forces the sprin 77 into engagement with the spring 76, w ich spring 76 rests against stop 83 integral] formed with the'cap 5. The collar 74and7shaft 72 as a whole is rotatedwith the timer 20 due to this cam acting drive connection, and to assure proper actuation of the drive connection, I provide friction means upon shaft/72.

A bracket 85 (Fig. 4) is provided which is supported by the cap 5 and has integrally 'formed therewith cylindrical members 86 diametrically opposite, and which lcarry spring-pressed friction members 87 which engage the auxiliary shaft 7 2. Coil springs 88 rest in the openings 89 of the cylindrical l members 86 and suitable caps 90 having screw-threaded enga ment with the threaded ends of the cylin rical kmembers 86 hold the friction members 87 and springs 88 in place; the said spring pressin the friction members 87 against the' shaft 2. The collar 74 and shaft 72 as a whole remain in 4this raisedposition as long as the shaft 2 is rotating, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

Now, when the engine is stopped the shaft 2 stops rotating, and the tension of' the 77 is such as to force the collar 74 and s aft 72 as a whole in a downward direction against .the friction of friction members 87 into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, and to again permit the ycontacts to assume their normal open position.

t. Referring now to Fig; 5, "I illustrate a simplified ignition circuit arrangement operating in connection with my invention, and for the purpose ofdescription assume that the o erator closes the ignition switch S and't en depresses the starting button to turn over theengine. For a vclearer understanding of a switch of this type reference may be had to a- Vpatentissued "to William vKaisling and bearing Patent No.1,360,4-11.

The 'engine' is turned over through the yagven'cy fythe`starting\motor, and this mo:-

aan a amaai/@d e aesdiaribuer sata if.

2, as before described, and the rotation of the shaft 2 causes the collar 7dA and shaft 72 as a whole to be moved upward due to the cam acting drive connection against the tension of the spring 77 to close the contacts 76 and 77, to` close the battery circuit andto permit the same to be distributed to the spark plugs throughthe agency of the distributer and timer. When the contacts 76 and 77 are closed through'the agency of the battery Bthrough the now closed switch S, through the closed contacts 76 and 77, timer contacts 4l and 36, through primary P of the induction coil IC to ground. This flow of current through the primarywinding l? induces a flow of current into the secondary SE of the coil l0, and the instant the contacts 36 and d1 are opened due to the rotation of the timer 2O the button 62 of the distributer disk 58 engages a terminal 66,

and this induced current into the secondary,v ofthe coil IC is transmitted winding SE to the proper sparlrplug SP, as is well known in the art. As long as the engine is running the contacts 76 and 77 are "closed to maintain thebattery circuit of the ignition system of the engine. Now, when the engine is stopped the shaft 2 of the distributer stops rotating and the tension of the spring 7 now forces thev shaft 72 and collar 7d downward, permitting the contacts 7 6 and 77 to open the battery ignition circuit and prevent a'drain upon the battery, should the operator fail l to open the ignition switch S.

From the foregoing it is thus seen that lf have arranged my system so that whenever the engine stops functioning for any reason whatever, the ignition circuit is immediately opened to prevent a drain of the battery.

lWhile f have described one form of mechanism well adapted to accomplish the objects sought, it is'to be understood that various other forms might be utilized to accomplish the desired results. rltherefore, ll Vdo not wlsh to be limited to the exact structure as shown, as many changes and modifications. may readily suggest themselves, but li aim to' cover all such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

i/lhat ll claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patenhlis:

l. lin an electric current controller of the character -described,-'the combination of a rotdrydevice, including a cover cap, a pair of normally open sprmg contacts secured thereto, a rotatable shaft, a sleeve member, a second shaft having a collar secured thereto for engaging said sleevemember, said second shaftv mounted in association with said rst shaft by said sleeve member, a friction member for said second shaft secured @over we Seldsecend shaft pred a shaft,

incensi to be moved away from said rst shaft by the cooperation of said sleeve member and said collar and by said friction member to close said contacts when said first shaft is rotating, andalso adapted to be returned to normal position by spring tension when rotation ceases.

2. ln ay device of the character described, including a cup member having an orifice, a driving shaft extending through said orifice, a cover 'cap having a friction member secured thereto, a pair of contact springs, a sleeve member, an auxiliary 'shaft engaging said sleeve member and associated with said driving shaft, said auxiliary shaft being held in position by said friction member and one7 of said contact springs and adapted tobe moved away from said driving shaft through the cooperation of said sleeve -throughkan auxiliary shaft engaging said central opening and associatedwith said rotatable shaft, a pair of normally openv spring contacts having terminals and secured to said cover cap, said spring contacts being automatically closed when saidshafts are 1n rotary motion `and automatically opened Y when said shafts are at rest.

d. lin an electric current controlling mechanism of the character described, including a rotary device, a driving'shafttherefor, a cam member having an integrally formed extension provided with a central orifice throughout and associated with said driving said extension having a convex shaped end, a set of normally open contacts, an auxiliary shaft associated with said driving shaft, a friction Vmember for retarding the rotation of Isaid auxiliary shaft, .a collar having a concave shaped end secured to said aumliary shaft, said auxiliary shaft engaging the central orifice in said cam mem-v ber and said concave shaped end of said collar engaging said convex shaped end of said cam member, said auxiliary shaft adapted to be moved away from said driving shaft through the cooperation of the concave and convex ends of said collar and said cam member, and by the retardation of `said auxiliary switch by said friction member to close said contacts when said driving shaft is rotating. Y

5.. Aldevice of the character described inlac cluding a rotary device provided with e driving shaft, a cam member having an integrally formed sleeve extension, an auxiliary shaft having a collar secured thereto, a friction member for retarding the rotation of said auxiliary shaft, said auxiliary shaft being associated with said driving shaft and said collar being in engagement with said sleeve extension, said auxiliary shaft adapted to move away from said driv ing shaft through the cooperation of said collar and said sleeve extension and by said friction member when said driving shaft is in motion and also adapted tomove back to its normal position when said driving shaft ceases rotating.

6. A device of the character described including av driving shaft and a sleeve member associated therewith, an auxiliary shaft having a collar secured thereto, said auxiliary shaft and collar being in association with said driving shaft and said sleeve member, a set of normally open contact springs, a friction member associated with said auxiliary shaft, said auxiliary shaft adapted to move away from said driving shaft t rough the cooperation of said sleeve member and collar and said friction member when the driving shaft is in rotary motion, and also` adapted to be moved to its normal position by one v-of said contact springs when, said driving shaft is at rest.

7. An automatic circuit closing mechanism of the'character described including a rotatable shaft, a second shaft having a collar secured thereto, a sleeve member for engaging said collar and associating said second shaft with said first shaft, a cover cap having a pair of open spring contacts and a friction member secured thereto, said second shaft adapted to move away from said first shaft through the cooperation of said sleeve and collar and said friction member to close said contacts when said first shaft is rotating and adapted to be moved back to normal by one of said spring contacts `when rotation ceases.

8. In a circuit closing device of the character described including a rotatable shaft and sleeve member, a second-shaft having a collar secured thereto, said collar and second shaft being associated with said first shaft and sleeve, a pair of contact springs and a friction member associated with .said

` second shaft, said second shaft being forced said collar and the retardation of said sec ond Shaft by said friction member to close said contacts when said rotatable shaft :is

rotating and being forced back to normal' by one of said contact springs when the mechanism is at rest.

9. A circuit closing device for combustion engines of the character described including a pair of shafts and cam means on said shafts for automatically closing a set of contact springs when the combustion engine is started, and automatic means for opening said set of contacts when thev engine comes to vrest without reversing the direction of rotation of the engine.

10. In a circuit closing device for combustion engines of the character described, a pair of contacts, a pair of shafts and cam means on said shafts and a friction device associated with one of said shafts for closing said pair of contacts, and automatic means including tension means for maintaining said contacts at normal during the non-operation of the engine.

1l. An ignition system for combustion engines including a contact device, a pair of shafts and cam means for said shafts and a friction device associated with one of said shafts for automatically operating said con` tacts when the combustion engine is started, and spring tension means for returning said contacts to normal when said engine comes to rest. t

12. An ignition device of the character described including contact means, mechanical means including a main shaft and an associated auxiliary shaft having inclined surfaces for operating said contact means, and

spring means for returning said contact means to normal.

13. A system of the character described includin ignition mechanism for an internal com ustion engine, -a contact device,.a pair of shafts, friction means automatically controlled by the starting of the internal combustion engine for operating said contact means, cam means on said shafts for maintaining said contact device in operated position, and automatic means for returning said contact means to normal when said engine comes to rest.

igned by me at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 25 day of July, 1921'.

LEROY D. KELLOGG. 

